the land of footprints-第48部分
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which we looked to a triangular gentle slope overgrown with scattered bushes and high grass。 Beyond this again ran another jungle； angling up hill from the first； to end in a forest of trees about thirty or forty acres in extent。 This jungle and these trees were backed up against the slope of the mountain。 The buffaloes we had first seen above the grove： they must now have sought cover among either the trees or the lower jungle； and it seemed reasonable that the beasts would emerge on the grass and bush area late in the afternoon。 Therefore Memba Sasa and I selected good comfortable sheltered spots； leaned our backs against rocks； and resigned ourselves to long patience。 It was now about nine o'clock in the morning； and we could not expect our game to come out before half past three at earliest。 We could not； however； go away to come back later because of the chance that the buffaloes might take it into their heads to go travelling。 I had been fooled that way before。 For this reason； also； it was necessary； every five minutes or so； to examine carefully all our boundaries； lest the beasts might be slipping away through the cover。
The hours passed very slowly。 We made lunch last as long as possible。 I had in my pocket a small edition of Hawthorne's 〃The House of the Seven Gables；〃 which I read； pausing every few minutes to raise my glasses for the periodical examination of the country。 The mental focussing back from the pale gray half light of Hawthorne's New England to the actuality of wild Africa was a most extraordinary experience。
Through the heat of the day the world lay absolutely silent。 At about half…past three； however； we heard rumblings and low bellows from the trees a half mile away。 I repocketed Hawthorne； and aroused myself to continuous alertness。
The ensuing two hours passed more slowly than all the rest of the day； for we were constantly on the lookout。 The buffaloes delayed most singularly； seemingly reluctant to leave their deep cover。 The sun dropped behind the mountains； and their shadow commenced to climb the opposite range。 I glanced at my watch。 We had not more than a half hour of daylight left。
Fifteen minutes of this passed。 It began to look as though our long and monotonous wait had been quite in vain； when； right below us； and perhaps five hundred yards away； four great black bodies fed leisurely from the bushes。 Three of them we could see plainly。 Two were bulls of fair size。 The fourth； half concealed in the brush； was by far the biggest of the lot。
In order to reach them we would have to slip down the face of the hill on which we sat； cross the stream jungle at the bottom； climb out the other side； and make our stalk to within range。 With a half hour more of daylight this would have been comparatively easy； but in such circumstances it is difficult to move at the same time rapidly and unseen。 However； we decided to make the attempt。 To that end we disencumbered ourselves of all our extras…lunch box； book； kodak； glasses； etc。…and wormed our way as rapidly as possible toward the bottom of the hill。 We utilized the cover as much as we were able； but nevertheless breathed a sigh of relief when we had dropped below the line of the jungle。 We wasted very little time crossing the latter； save for precautions against noise。 Even in my haste； however； I had opportunity to notice its high and austere character； with the arching overhead vines； and the clear freedom from undergrowth in its heart。 Across this cleared space we ran at full speed； crouching below the grasp of the vines； splashed across the brook and dashed up the other bank。 Only a faint glimmer of light lingered in the jungle。 At the upper edge we paused； collected ourselves； and pushed cautiously through the thick border…screen of bush。
The twilight was just fading into dusk。 Of course we had taken our bearings from the other hill； so now； after reassuring ourselves of them； we began to wriggle our way at a great pace through the high grass。 Our calculations were quite accurate。 We stalked successfully； and at last； drenched in sweat； found ourselves lying flat within ten yards of a small bush behind which we could make out dimly the black mass of the largest beast we had seen from across the way。
Although it was now practically dark； we had the game in our own hands。 From our low position the animal； once it fed forward from behind the single small bush； would be plainly outlined against the sky； and at ten yards I should be able to place my heavy bullets properly； even in the dark。 Therefore； quite easy in our minds； we lay flat and rested。 At the end of twenty seconds the animal began to step forward。 I levelled my double gun； ready to press trigger the moment the shoulder appeared in the clear。 Then against the saffron sky emerged the ugly outline and two upstanding horns of a rhinoceros！
〃Faru！〃 I whispered disgustedly to Memba Sasa。 With infinite pains we backed out； then retreated to a safe distance。 It was of course now too late to hunt up the three genuine buffaloes of this ill…assorted group。
In fact our main necessity was to get through the river jungle before the afterglow had faded from the sky； leaving us in pitch darkness。 I sent Memba Sasa across to pick up the effects we had left on the opposite ridge； while I myself struck directly across the flat toward camp。
I had plunged ahead thus； for two or three hundred yards； when I was brought up short by the violent snort of a rhinoceros just off the starboard bow。 He was very close； but I was unable to locate him in the dusk。 A cautious retreat and change of course cleared me from him； and I was about to start on again full speed when once more I was halted by another rhinoceros； this time dead ahead。 Attempting to back away from him； I aroused another in my rear； and as though this were not enough a fourth opened up to the left。
It was absolutely impossible to see anything ten yards away unless it happened to be silhouetted against the sky。 I backed cautiously toward a little bush； with a vague idea of having something to dodge around。 As the old hunter said when； unarmed； he met the bear； 〃Anything； even a newspaper； would have come handy。〃 To my great joy I backed against a conical ant hill four or five feet high。 This I ascended and began anti…rhino demonstrations。 I had no time to fool with rhinos； anyway。 I wanted to get through that jungle before the leopards left their family circles。 I hurled clods of earth and opprobrious shouts and epithets in the four directions of my four obstreperous friends； and I thought I counted four reluctant departures。 Then； with considerable doubt； I descended from my ant hill and hurried down the slope； stumbling over grass hummocks； colliding with bushes； tangling with vines； but progressing in a gratifyingly rhinoless condition。 Five minutes cautious but rapid feeling my way brought me through the jungle。 Shortly after I raised the campfires； and so got home。
The next two days were repetitions； with slight variation； of this experience； minus the rhinos！ Starting from camp before daylight we were only in time to see the herd…always aggravatingly on the other side of the cover； no matter which side we selected for our approach； slowly grazing into the dense jungle。 And always they emerged so late and so far away that our very best efforts failed to get us near them before dark。 The margin always so narrow； however； that our hopes were alive。
On the fourth day； which must be our last in Longeetoto； we found that the herd had shifted to fresh cover three miles along the base of the mountains。 We had no faith in those buffaloes； but about half…past three we sallied forth dutifully and took position on a hill overlooking the new hiding place。 This consisted of a wide grove of forest trees varied by occasional open glades and many dense thickets。 So eager were we to win what had by now developed into a contest that I refused to shoot a lioness with a three…quarters…grown cub that appeared within easy shot from some reeds below us。
Time passed as usual until nearly sunset。 Then through an opening into one of the small glades we caught sight of the herd travelling slowly but steadily from right to left。 The glimpse was only momentary； but it was sufficient to indicate the direction from which we might expect them to emerge。 Therefore we ran at top speed down from our own hill； tore through the jungle at its foot； and hastily； but with more caution； mounted the opposite slope through the scattered groves and high grass。 We could hear occasionally indications of the buffaloes' slow advance； and we wanted to gain a good ambuscade above them before they emerged。 We found it in the shape of a small conical hillock perched on the side hill itself； and covered with long grass。 It commanded open vistas through the scattered trees in all directions。 And the thicket itself ended not fifty yards away。 No buffalo could possibly come out without our seeing him； and we had a good half hour of clear daylight before us。 It really seemed that luck had changed at last。
We settled ourselves； unlimbered for action； and got our breath。 The buffaloes came nearer and nearer。 At length； through a tiny opening a hundred yards away； we cou
